Week 1 provides some surprises

OAK HILL ACADEMY: After a winless 2011 season, Oak Hill Academy opened the year with a 13-6 win at Newton County Academy.

Coach Daniel Merchant said the offseason was spent getting players to buy into a new way of doing things. The Oak Hill junior high program had been successful of late, so some talented - yet young - newcomers were expected to step in and contribute right away.

The Raiders can take a deep breath with the long losing streak over. However, this week's challenge will be much greater.

Oak Hill visits Winston Academy in the MAIS Class AA, District 2 opener for each team. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in West Point.

NOXUBEE COUNTY: While it may not be shocking that Noxubee County beat Starkville Friday night in the season opener for each team, it had to be shocking how dominant the performance.

The Tigers won their fourth straight from the Yellow Jackets with a 29-8 win at Starkville. Noxubee County's mammoth defensive line held the high-powered Starkville offense to 83 total yards. Quarterback Gabe Myles only completed one pass for the Yellow Jackets.

COLUMBUS: The same holds true in Lowndes County. Coach Tony Stanford's Columbus Falcons have proven mighty salty at home the last couple of years. Still, few had to a see a totally dominant performance like this coming.

Columbus blanked Aberdeen 21-0 in the season opener for both teams.

Aberdeen made five turnovers in the opener. The Bulldogs' inability to hang onto the football played a big role in last season's 7-6 finish. That problem will be need to be addressed early this year before another season gets away.

For Columbus, the opener was a good first step. With several offensive play makers gone from last season, there was fear the Falcons may not match last season's seven-win total. Those fears were intensified after a lackluster scoreless tie with Noxubee County in the New Hope Jamboree.

While it is only Week 1, it is a safe bet that Columbus, Noxubee County and West Point (even in a 12-10 defeat at No. 1 South Panola) opened with a bang. Each should only get better from here, too.